Outstanding collective agreements un-resolved

(Photo courtesy petrotrin.com)

January 9, 2017: The Company and the Union continued its conciliation meetings under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Enterprise Development at the offices of the Ministry of Labour and Enterprise Development, Tower C, Port of Spain.

The meetings commenced at 10:00 a.m. (Sunday, 2017 January 08) and continued through to this morning Monday, 2017 January 09 including a two hour session at the Industrial Court from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. During the meetings the Company offered an interim payment of 3% for the three year agreements covering the period 2011 – 2014/2015 while the Union maintained their request for a 10% settlement for the same period with deferral of retroactive payments.

With respect to the three year agreements covering the period 2014 – 2017/2018 the union offered to withdraw strike action served for this period on the premise that a settlement for the previous period is achieved.

Despite the lengthy discussions and the ongoing intervention of the Minister of Labour and Enterprise Development, no agreement has been arrived at and the talks are continuing. The Company’s contingency plan for the impending strike for this period 2014-2018 has been activated and is expected to take effect from10:00 a.m. today (Monday, 2017 January 09).

In this context therefore the Company wishes to reassure the general public of the continuity and reliability of supply of refined products during this period.